Coin controlled liquid dispensing apparatus and the like



`kan. 15, 1957 T A. BANNING, JR

COIN CONTROLLED LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS AND THE LIKE Filed OCT.. 13.1950 17 Shee1'.rs'-SheefI 1 Jan 15, 1957 T. A. BANNING, JR 2,777,555

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COIN CONTROLLED LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS AND THE LIKE.'

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Jan. 15, 1957 T. A. BANNING, JR 2,777,555

COIN CONTROLLED LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 13,1950 l 17 Sheets-Sheet 6 InvemLor':

Jan. 15, 1957 T. A. BANNING, JR 2,777,555

COIN CONTROLLED LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. l5.1950 1'? Sheets-Shea?l 7 Jan. l5, 1957 4 r A. BANNING, JR y 2,777,555

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Jan. 15, 1957 T. A. BANNING, .1R

COIN CONTROLLED LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS AND THE LIKE 17 Sheets-Sheet9 E15 .10. Invenlror:

Filed OCT.. 13, 1950 Jan. 15, 1957 T. A. BANNING, .1R 2,777,555

COIN CONTROLLED LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS AND THE LIKE 17 Sheets-Sheet10 Invenor':

Filed 001,. 15. 1950 Jan. 15,v 1957 r. A. BANNING, JR 2,777,555

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.for xmnazwnoz United States Patent O COIN CONTROLLED LIQUID DISPENSINGAPPARATUS AND THE LIKE Thomas A. Banning, Jr., Chicago, lll.

Application October 13, 1950, Serial No. 189,928

70 Claims. (Cl. 19413) This invention has to do with improvements inliquid dispensing apparatus, and the like; Specifically, theimprovements herein disclosed have been devised to provide improvementsin gasoline dispensing stands and like apparatus, but it will appearfrom the following disclosures that they are not limited to suchspecific applications as gasoline dispensing stands, but many of saidfeatures are also useful and applicable for other liquid dispensing usesand applications than such specific use. l do not intend to limit myselfto the application of said features to gasoline dispensing stands andthe like, except as I may so limit myself in the claims to follow.Nevertheless, the embodiments hereinafter disclosed have been devisedspecially to meet the requirements and conditions imposed in thedispensing of gasoline, kerosene, and other motor fuels, and saidembodiments incorporate various elements and features specially intendedto meet the requirements imposed in the dispensing of such fuels.Various of said requirements are imposed by legal and other regulations,and also to meet safety conditions, and other special conditions, all aswill hereinafter appear in detail.

Since said features have been devised specially to meet the conditionsimposed in connection with the dispensing of gasoline and other liquidfuels, I shall first mention briefly certain conditions and requirementsin connection with the dispensing of such liquids, and shall thereafterstate some of the principal objects which the present improvements aredesigned to fulfill.

At the present time it is the more or less universal custom to dispensegasoline and other motor fuels for general public consumption, and foruse in motor vehicles, trucks, etc., by the use of stands which areconveniently placed and attended for such purposes. These stands areprovided with pumps (generally of the centrifugal type) and drivingmotors therefore, with gear ratio changers, with liquid meters throughwhich the liquid passes during dispensing operations, the gear ratiochangers being primarily driven by such meters, with delivery hoses andmanually operated (sometimes semi-automatically operated) deliverynozzles through which the liquid is delivered, and with hooks or likesupports whereby the nozzles may be supported when not in use.Furthermore such stands are provided With various counters, generallyvisible to the operator and purchaser of the fuel, and, generallyserving to indicate the number of gallons of fuel delivered, the cost ofthe same to the purchaser, and the rate of such fuel per gallon.Customarily, also such stands are provided with suitable totalizingcounters for total gallons, and for total purchase price or` amount. Thegear ratio changers are so designed and built that the Amount ofPurchase will be correctly indicated on the proper counter according towhatever rate per gallon may be specified, and for which the gear ratiochanger has been adjusted and set. To this end such stands arecustomarily built with driving connections fromthe meters to such gearratio changers, and with outgoing driving connections from the gearratio changers 2,777,555 Patented Jan. 15, 1957 ICC to the Amount ofPurchase counters. Driving connections between the liquid meters and theGallons counters may be effected either directly, or through the gearratio changers; but in either case such Gallons counters correctlyindicate the gallons as metered by the meters, and irrespective ofchanges made in the rate per gallon, which changes are effected in thegear ratio changer itself.

The counters of such dispensing stands are generally if not universallyof some re-setting type so that the Gallons counter and the Amount ofPurchase counter may be re-set to zero, either individually or otherwiseprior to commencing each dispensing operation. Usually, also interlocksare provided between such counters or the re-setting means, and otherelements, so that said counters must be re-set to zero prior tocommencing a new dispensing operation. Such re-setting operations shouldbe effected without need of reversing the metering element, and may beof various forms.

When the nozzles have been removed from their hooks, the counters havingbeen re-set to zero, the liquid is allowed to discharge by manualoperation or control of the nozzles, and during such dischargingoperations the meters function to meter quantity of fuel delivered,

with corresponding advancement of the Gallons counter and the Amount ofPurchase counter. v

Generally the motor fuel is delivered to the purchasers vehicle eitherto supply a specified amount of fuel, such as a specified number ofgallons, or in amount to comply with a specified Amount of Purchase,.such as $3.50 worth of fuel, on the basis of the rate per gallon thencurrent and as adjusted by the setting 0f the gear ratio changer of thestand in question. In the former case the nozzle is retained in opencondition until the Gallons counter indicates the specified nurnber ofgallons delivered; in the latter case the nozzle is retained in opencondition until the Amount of Purchase counter indicates the specifiedmonetary value. In either case, however, the operator may discontinueflow of the liquid by releasing the nozzle lever to allow the nozzle toclose. Frequently the purchaser may specify that the tank shall befilled up, in which case the desired number of gallons cannot bepre-specified exactly.

Although it is customary to so construct the hose nozles that whenmanually released they will automatically close and stop the dischargeof fuel, still it frequently happens that attendants will jam orotherwise modify the nozzles so that they will not thus automaticallyfunction to close. This malpractice has frequently been used inlocations Where there are numbers of dispensing stands under a singlesupervision, so that the attendant must attend to all of such stands,delivering fuel from one stand at a time, and thus working underpressure when the traffic is heavy. In such a case it frequently happensthat the attendant will place the jammed nozzle in the inlet opening ofthe vehicle tank, so that the fuel will run into such tank without needof presence of the attendant who will then attend to other Work whilethe vehicle tank is being filled. When such tank has filled the fuelwill overflow and will continue to overflow until the attendant againtends such stand. Suchv a condition is extremely hazardous as Well asresulting in considerable loss of overflowed fuel. Additionally, whensuch a condition occurs there is created a dispute between the purchaserand the owner of the stand, since there is uncertainty as to exactly howmilch fuel has been actually delivered into the vehicle tank since thereading of Gallons on the stand does not correctly show the amount offuel delivered into the tank of the vehicle.

It is a prime `object of the present invention to provide the liquiddispensing stand or station with counting means operable according to' avariable which is proportionate arcanes to the amount of liquiddelivered, or according to the purchase price of such liquid based onthe selected rate per gallon, which counting device is pre-settable to aselected amount or value of such liquid which is to be delivered, andwhich counting device or a related part is provided with zeroizing meansoperable to signal when such pre-set amount or value of liquid has beendelivered; and to provide in connection therewith means to discontinuethe further delivery of such liquid when such pre-set'amount lor valuethereof has been so delivered. Specifically, in the case of gasolinevending stands for motor vehicles it is a prime object of the inventionto provide such counting means in connection with the gas metering meansso that such c-ounting and zeroizing element will be functionedaccording to the quantity of gas delivered as determined by suchmetering element. Still more specifically, it is an object, when thesaid counter operates on the basis of Purchase Amount to combine saidcounter with the gear ratio change unit in such manner. that saidcounter will function on the basis of dollars value of the fueldelivered, and will thus function at all times regardless of the settingof such gear ratio change unit, or the changing of such setting fromtime to time according to Varying rates per gallon of the sales price ofthe fuel.

Still more specifically, it is an object 'of the invention to providemeans to interlock various units of the stand in such manner as to makeit necessary to re-set such counter element to zero position prior topre-setting it to the amount of gallons or the Amount of Purchase whichis to be metered. The desirability of such provision will be understoodwhen it is considered that in some cases it will be found desirable ornecessary to discontinue the delivery of the liquid prior to actualdelivery of the pre-set gallons or purchase price amount, in which casessaid counter will not have been returned to its zero position or readingwhen delivery of the liquid is actually terminated. Such a conditionmight occur, for example, in a case Where the previous purchaser hadordered delivery of a specified amount or value of fuel, to which amountor value the counter was then pre-set; but when, actually it was foundimpossible to accommodate such amount or value of fuel in the tank. insuch a case the delivery of the fuel would be discontinued by use of'the nozzle, leaving an unconsumed amount or value still showing on thecounter.

In preferred embodiments of the invention l provide a countersupplemental to those counters heretofore generallyprovided for showinggallons, rate per gallon, and

amount of purchase, such supplemental counter showing,

by its pre-setting, the demanded amount or value of fuel to bedelivered. I then provide means, generally under the control of theattendantfor pre-setting such supplemental counter to the gmlons, or tothe amount of purchase demanded by the customer. I also provideresetting means for preliminarily setting the gallons counter, theamount of purchase counter, and the Prepay Counter (or the demandedgallons counter, as the case may be), to zero positions prior toinstituting the new operation, such re-setting means generally beingalso under control of the attendant. Having first re-set these severalcounters to their respective zero positions or readings, and having thenpre-set the gallons counter (or the Prepay Counter, as the case may be)to the demanded amount or value, I have provided means whereby as liquidis delivered the reading of the pre-set gallons counter (or the pre-setPrepay Counter) will move towards the zero vposition harmoniously withmovement of the Gallons Delivered" counter (or the Amount of Purchasecounter) -to higher readings7 until finally, when the preset gallonscounter (or the Prepay Counter) reaches its zero position the operationwill be automatically discontinued. Since the delivery of liquid is atall times under manual control by manipulation of the hose nozzle, it isevident that the delivering @Pefaiil 4 may be discontinued at any timeprior to the zeroizing of the supplemental counter, and under control ofthe person actually delivering the fuel into the receiving tank.

It is desirable, either on account `of legal requirements, orregulations, or otherwise, that provision be made such that the regularattendant of the filling station must be present at or close to thestand prior to commencement of a setting and delivering operation. it isalso desirable, for similar reasons, t-o make provision for ensuringthat the attendant personally re-set the counters to zero positions,prior to beginning of a delivering operation. lt is a further feature ofthe present invention that I have provided key lock operated means tore-set said counters. In certain embodiments of the invention I havealso made such provision that the attendant shall also, by use of hiskey, pre-'set the counter or counters to the amount or value of theliquid which it is desired to have delivered. Thus it is necessary thatthe attendant shall personally attend to these setting operations priorto commencement of a delivering operation.

Various interlocks are also provided in the arrangements hereinafterldescribed whereby various functions must be performed in a specifiedsequence. By reason of these interlocks there is assurance that theperformance of certain functions shall have been preceded by theperformance `of other functions, either by the attendant or by theperson actually delivering the fuel into the receiving tank. Included inthese interlocks is provision whereby the replacement of the nozzle onthe hook `of the stand will automatically terminate supply of current tothe pump motor (and close the shut-off valve in the fuel delivery line);together with provision whereby substr quent removal of `the nozzle fromits hook will nevertheless not cause resumption of current supply to thepump motor (or rre-opening the shut-off valve), even lthough thesupplemental counter had not yet have reached its zero position. Thisprovision will make it necessary when once the nozzle has been replacedon the hook, for the attendant to again come to the stand and performcertain operations in case further delivery of liquid is desired. Afurther interlocking provision is one which makes it necessary that theGallons counter (or the "Prepay Counter, as the case may be) shall bere-set to zero before other 'operations can be performed, thus avoidingerror in various settings and readings thereafter to be effected. Otherinterlocking provisions will appear hereinafter from full -disclosure ofthe features of ythe present invention.

I have herein disclosed two forms of embodiment of the features of thepresent invention. in one case the embodiment is one in which thesupplemental counter functions according to the amount lof Prepay indollars and cents; in the other form the embodiment is one in which thesupplemental counter functions according `to the number of gallonsdemanded for delivery, and regardless of the cost thereof, although theactual cost is also shown on a suitable counter, as determined by therate per gallon, and according to present mandarti practice in suchstands.

lIn connection with the Prepay embodiment certain features and objectsmay be here mentioned as follows:

In order to provide a completely automatic selfservice stand I haveprovided an arrangement such that coins of proper denominations and inwhatever amount (total value) may be desired, within the capacity of themachine, may be indiscriminately inserted through a receiving slot oropening, the counters having been previously re-set to `their zeropositions, as already explained. The insertion of such coins willautomatically ensure, after certain other interlocking operations havebeen performed that the Prepay Counter shall be advanced to a readingcorresponding to the total amount of such so inserted coins, so thatsaid counter will then indicate the amount in value of the coins soinserted. Preferably, and as illustrated, the arrangement is such (theprepay or similar counter having first been re-set to zero) that allcoins are rst inserted through the receiving slotwithout correspond,-ing advancements of the counter. Provision is then made, in the form ofa Starting Button for causing said coins to be successively passedthrough a selecting mechanism whereby the Prepay Counter is.successively advanced by stages according to the coins successivelyreleased through such mechanism until all coins have been counted, andthe Prepay Counter has been advanced to a reading equal in amount to thevalue of all coins thus previously inserted. During this preliminaryoperation certain interlocks are effective to prevent commencement ofoperation of the pump motor, and to prevent opening of the cut-oftvalve, and for certain other functions and objects, so as to protect thestand and the user from improper operations and consequences, and toensure correct functioning to eventually deliver the desired and prepaidamount of fuel.

In connection withL the foregoing preliminary operations l have alsoprovided a coin return chute which is norm ally open but may be closedby a solenoid. Such solenoid is only energized when the Prepay counterhas been set back to zero. This coin return chute is also interloclted`with the nozzle hook in such way that said hook must be in its nozzlesupporting position in order that the coin return chute shall be closed.It is thus necessary that the Prepay counter shall be in its zero resetposition and (when the nozzle hook interlock is used) that the nozzlehook shall be in its nozzle supporting position in order to be able toinsert the coins without having them immediately returned through thereturn chute.

In connection with the insertion and subsequent functioning of the coinselecting and counting mechanisms above referred to I have madeprovision for use of several coin denominations, such as quarters,half-dollars, and silver dollars which may be indiscriminately insertedinto the receiving slot. The arrangements are then such that as thesevarious denominations of coins are inserted they will individually moveto suitable and proper receiving chutes wherein they will be collectedin accordance with the several denominations mentioned. Upon thereafterdepressing the Starting Button the so-sorted coins will be individuallyreleased, one at a time, commencing with one denomination, for examplethe quarters, counting these and advancing the Prepay Counter by stepsas such quarters are released until all quarters have been counted andadded into the counter. rl`hen the half-dollars will be likewisereleased, one at a time, with corresponding advancements of the PrepayCounter so that when all halfdollars have been accounted for the counterwill read an amount equal to the sum of all quarter and allhalf-dollars. Then the silver dollars will be likewise released, withcon responding advancements of the counter until all silver dollars havebeen accounted for. Thereupon said counter will read an amount equal tothe sum of all quarters, all half-dollars, and all silver dollars whichhave been previously inserted through the slot. In case of absence ofany coins of a given denomination the operations just referred to willskip such coin denomination mechanism and proceed to the nextdenomination of which coins are present in the mechanism.

During the foregoing pre-setting operations by coins various interlocksare in effect so that improper functions may not occur. For example, noliquid can be delivered until all coins have been counted withcorresponding presetting of the counter to the proper total valueposition. This will ensure that when liquid delivery commences there maybe delivered an amount corresponding exactly to the total value of suchinserted coins.

Provision is made in the form of suitable interlocks so that when theAmount of Sale counter stands at its zero position to which it wasre-set by the attendant, and with the Prepay or like counter moved awayfrom its zero position, corresponding to some amount of prepay, themovement of the nozzle hook to its nozzle unsupported position willsupply current to the pump motor and will open the valve (if one beprovided.) in .the liquid delivery line. The aforesaid re-setting of theAmount of Sale counter to zero, and the movement of the Prepay`counterto some digital reading preceded the introduction ofthe coins as alreadyexplained.

When the coin counting operation has been completed a suitable signal isgiven, such as the lightingl of a signal lamp which is located inposition readily visible to the persony operating the stand. Upon thegiving of such signal the operator of the stand will be informed thatthe nozzle may properly be removed from its hook. Since at this time thepump motor is also in operation, and the shut-Gif valve is opened, fuelmay be delivered into the receiving tank by removing the nozzle from itshook, allowing said hook to rise, and then by proper manipulating thenozzle itself. Such delivering operation may be continued withcorresponding progressive increase in the reading of the Amount ofPurchase counter and increase in the reading of the Gallons counter, andwith corresponding and harmonious reduction of the reading of the PrepayCounter. The reading of the Amount of Purchase counter at any timeduring the operation will indicate what value of fuel has already beendelivered; and the reading of the Prepay Counter at such time willindicate the value of fuel which may still be taken from the stand. Whenthe Prepay Counter reaches its zero position the shut-off valve (ifprovided) closes and the pump motor is stopped, with discontinuance offuel supply even if the nozzle on the hose is retained open. At thispoint the Amount of Purchase Counter will read an amount equal to theamount of the original setting of the Prepay Counter. The operation hasbeen completed.

As previously explained, the starting of the pump motor and the openingof the valve (if provided) are contingent on the need of the Amount ofSale counter being at zero, and on the need of the Prepay counter beingat a position other than zero, so that the raising of the nozzle hook(the nozzle being removed) can close contacts comprising portions of thepump motor and valve circuits. It is evident that as soon as any amountof liquid has been delivered the Amount of Sale counter will have movedaway from its zero position so that one of the conditions precedent to amotor starting operation has now been destroyed. I have included aholding relay in the motor supply circuit. When the conditions needed tostart the pump motor have been met this holding relay is moved to itsclosed position where it is set, so that supply of current to the motorwill continue even after the Amount of Sale counter has moved from itszero position. This holding relay is provided with a releasing solenoid,and contacts and connections are provided such that depression of thenozzle hook Will excite this releasing solenoid thus releasing theholding relay and cutting oft the current from the pump motor and thevalve.

After having inserted a given amount and value of coins withcorresponding pre-setting of the prepay counter (the Starting Buttonhaving been operated), and after lhaving delivered only a portion of thefuel corresponding to such prepaid amount it may be desired todiscontinue the delivering operation manually by merely allowing thenozzle to close and replacing the nozzle on its hook. Under theseconditions the shut-0E valve will close and the pump motor will stop,Ileaving the prepay counter reading an amount equal to the differencebetween the amount prepaid and the amount (in value) of fuel delivered.Such difference will be indicated as the reading of the prepay counterat such time. This amount is a credit to the purchaser and provisionmust be made for return or credit of such amount to him.

As a further feature and object of the invention I have provided meansto deliver to the purchaser the amount of any credit due to him byreason of his having made an overpayment of coins into the machine. Thespecific means hereinafter disclosed includes a printing means in

